Last season was a strong one for the Colonial Athletic Conference, now known as the Coastal Athletic Conference. And, the conference only got deeper after the addition of one of the most successful college programs in recent years. So, what’s on tap for 2024 in the CAA? Here’s our 2024 CAA baseball season preview.
Related: 2024 College Baseball Season Preview: ACC
Campbell
We start off our 2024 CAA baseball preview with the Campbell Fighting Camels. The 2024 season is Campbell’s first in the CAA, as Campbell moves over from the Big South. The program’s produced quality talent in recent years — think Zach Neto, Cedric Mullins, and 2023 second-round pick Cade Kuehler — and the Camels look poised to do damage yet again in 2024.
Campbell returns sophomore pitcher Jackson Roberts, who pitched quite well last year, and Lawson Harrill. Harrill hit 22 home runs last spring for Campbell and could be a senior to watch on Day 2 of the 2024 MLB Draft. Freshman pitcher Simon Bargo, a top 500 player in the Perfect Game Class of 2023, is another name to watch.
College of Charleston
The College of Charleston Cougars are coming off a 36-22 campaign last year. Charleston did well in CAA conference play last year and the Cougars will rely heavily on a big bat who’s likely to garner plenty of attention from scouts.
Junior infielder/pitcher Cole Mathis, who hit .330 for the Cougars last fall, catapulted himself into the MLB.com top 100 MLB Draft prospects after a very good run at the Cape. Even though he does pitch, he’ll likely be just a hitter at the pros. One notable freshman to watch is Jacob Brown, rated by Perfect Game as the 468th-best player in the Class of 2023 and eighth-best in South Carolina.
Delaware
The 2023 season was not a bad one for the Delaware Blue Hens. Delaware went 30-29 on the season overall and made the CAA baseball tournament for the first time since the 2018 season.
Third baseman Joey Loynd, who hit .392 with 14 home runs last year for Delaware, is back for 2024. Bryce Greenly and Anthony Gubitosi are among the notable returning players.
Elon
The Elon Phoenix have been a strong success story in the college scene in recent years. That’s thanks to a good program that’s developed pro talent and one that’s been competitive. Last season, Elon finished with the second-best record (19-9) in CAA play.
The Phoenix did lose standout outfielder Justin Cassella to the Oregon Ducks and 2023 ace Shea Sprague to UNC after last season. Elon does get back Justin Mitrovich (66 K over 63.2 IP in 2023) for his sophomore season.
Hofstra
Head coach Frank Catalanotto will have his work cut out for him in a tough CAA. And, it doesn’t help that Catalanotto won’t have longtime Pride catcher/outfielder and now-Angels farmhand Kevin Bruggeman for 2024.
Hofstra will get back infielder Dylan Palmer for 2024. Palmer didn’t hit for much power in 2023 but the sophomore batted .369 and stole 23 bases for the Pride as a freshman in 2023.
Monmouth
Monmouth had a rough 2023 season in the CAA. The Hawks went 6-22 in conference play and the CAA coaches don’t expect much from Monmouth in 2024. Monmouth was predicted to finish last in the CAA again in 2024.
Outfielder Eric Sabato, who hit .310 last year for the Hawks, is back for 2024.
North Carolina A&T
Despite decent years from several of the North Carolina A&T hitters, the Aggies could not keep pace with the powers of the CAA. North Carolina A&T finished with the third-worst record (11-17) in conference play last season.
North Carolina A&T, projected to finish 10th in the conference by the CAA coaches, brings back Tre Williams and Camden Jackson for 2024. Both hit over .300 for the Aggies last season.
Northeastern
After a dominant 2023 and a birth in the 2023 NCAA Tournament, it’s not a shock to see Northeastern be the favorite to win the CAA. The conference’s coaches picked the Huskies to win the conference and Northeastern was the lone team from the CAA to crack the preseason USA Today/Coaches Top 25.
The star of the Huskies is Mike Sirota, a 16th-round by the Dodgers in 2021 who’s done nothing but hit since heading to Northeastern. Sirota should be a first-round pick in July and should that be the case, would be the first Huskie to go in the first round since Adam Ottavino. Infielder Tyler MacGregor and pitcher Aiven Cabral round out an impressive squad.
Stony Brook
Head coach Matt Senk has built a strong program over at Stony Brook. However, the competition has been stiff in the CAA. Still, the Seawolves have been able to keep up somewhat with the competition. Even though Stony Brook went 23-29 in the regular season, the Seawolves posted a 14-16 record in CAA play.
The Seawolves did lose longtime, yet productive hitter Evan Giordano after the 2023 season. Sophomore pitcher Eddie Smink and senior infielder/outfielder Evan Fox, the latter of whom hit .333 last spring, are back for the 2024 season.
Towson
Towson did not do well in the CAA last spring and that was visible in their record. The Tigers went just 7-23 in conference play and 19-37 overall.
The Tigers didn’t play a single player in the All-CAA preseason team. However, infielders Casey Bishop and Bryce Frederick, the two leaders in hits for Towson last season, are back.
UNCW
Even though Northeastern had the dominant roster, the Huskies didn’t win the CAA in 2023. That honor went to the UNCW Seahawks. UNCW did make it to the NCAA Tournament last May but did get bounced in the NCAA Regionals. But heading into 2024, the CAA coaches have them finishing right behind Northeastern for the conference crown.
UNCW had four players make the preseason All-CAA team: senior infielder Jac Croom, sophomore infielder Tanner Thach, senior outfielder Trevor Marsh, and junior pitcher Zane Taylor. Croom hit .361 for the Seahawks last season.
William & Mary
We end our 2024 CAA baseball season preview with the William & Mary Tribe. William & Mary went 15-15 in conference play and much like in 2023, are expected to finish in the middle of the pack.
The Tribe will return junior pitcher Nate Knowles, who struck out 70 batters over 65.2 innings pitched. Junior reliever Carter Lovasz is also back after a strong sophomore season in 2023.